Tuesday July 8, 2008
Tighter rules for cyber cafes
KUALA LUMPUR: All cyber cafes will have to close by midnight daily and operate only from the ground floor of buildings once the guidelines to control them are enforced.
Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin said that under the new guidelines, cyber cafe operators were also banned from using tinted glass.
“Operators must ensure their shops can be seen from the outside,” he said.
“The new rule also requires those below 12 years old to be accompanied by their parents or guardians to cyber cafes and they are only allowed to stay until 10pm,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday.
The guidelines have been drawn up and ready to be enforced at anytime.
However, Hamzah did not say when the ministry was going to start enforcing them except to say it would be “as soon as possible”.
Hamzah said cyber cafes were also banned from other co-business activities, including having games, gambling, pornography, music and publications with negative elements.
“Cigarettes and alcohol cannot be sold or consumed at these premises,” he said.
Hamzah said operators were required to keep a register to record the entry and departure time of their patrons.
“This is to ensure that all patrons are checked by operators at all times. The owners of the business must also send the names of students who come to their premises to their schools,” he said.
Hamzah said some students had been found to play truant by changing their uniforms and visiting cyber cafes during school hours.
“We will also issue a warning to operators who allow students into their centres as this (truancy) has been getting out of hand,” he said.
Cyber cafes which did not comply with the guidelines would be blacklisted.
“The names of offenders will be sent to all local authorities and they will not be allowed to open such businesses again in any part of the country,” he said.
News Poll
- Court ruling takes bite out of local council summonses
- Chin Peng apologises for death of innocents
- Girl and stepmum held over bid to kill first wife
- Biggest karaoke session a blast
- New evidence on MCA snoop squad case arrives at doorstep
- Teoh's second autopsy completed 3.15pm
- Victim’s dad nabs kidnapper
- Teoh’s body exhumed for second autopsy today
- Foreigner falls to her death from condominium
- Malaysians must get regular dental checks
- Court ruling takes bite out of local council summonses
- Chin Peng apologises for death of innocents
- Malaysians must get regular dental checks
- No licence to try offenders
- Big impact in ‘small’ man’s win
- New evidence on MCA snoop squad case arrives at doorstep
- Stop blanket approval for outsourcing, says union
- Weapons drawn for new battle
- Johor set to be a medical hub
- Joy for 2,500 housebuyers as SPNB takes over project
RSS
